Mobile retail store structure with inventory system

Abstract

A mobile retail store structure transportable to a plurality of different locations includes a trailer construction configured both exteriorly and interiorly for housing a plurality of storage bins wherein products and / or parts can be stored. Each trailer is a self-sufficient module which includes doors at one end of the trailer unit for entry and exit thereto, portable stairs for providing access to the entry doors, opposed side doors and associated walkways for allowing coupling to additional similarly constructed trailers, extendable canopies for providing a secure passageway between the respective coupled trailers, and a generator / HVAC system for providing heating, cooling and electrical power to each trailer unit. In one embodiment, a terminal is provided to allow a user to either browse electronically various items for selection and / or sale, or access a self-service check-out station to complete a transaction. A plurality of terminals can be coupled to communicate with a master server terminal over a wired / wireless network.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 357,186, filed on Jun. 22, 2010, entitled MOBILE RETAIL INVENTORY SYSTEM, which application is hereby incorporated by reference to the extent permitted by law.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to a mobile retail store and an inventory system associated therewith and, more particularly, to an improved trailer configuration configured both exteriorly and interiorly for housing mobile retail equipment including a plurality of carousels for the storage of products and / or parts and an inventory system configured for managing the inventory of the mobile retail store wherein the inventory system sends requests and orders to a central inventory server over a network.[0003]Traditionally, retail stores have been located at fixed positions as a stand-alone store, or as part of a shopping center or mall or at some other...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]A roll-up rear door is associated with the rear or back portion of each trailer for providing access to the entry doors. A roll-up side door is incorporated into opposed side portions of each trailer for providing additional access openings to the trailer and for housing a respective telescopic walkway and canopy. When one roll-up side door is opened, access from one trailer to an adjacent trailer is provided and the associated telescopic walkway and canopy bridge the gap between the two trailers. In order to expand the interior volume available for retail services, one or more trailers can be connected together through the side doorways and the telescopic walkways and canopies. In this regard, a roll-upside door is preferably associated with each opposed side portion of each respective trailer unit so that multiple trailers forming multiple modules may be combined in any sequence depending upon the particular application. The multiple trailers connected to each other with the telescopic walkways and canopies provide sufficient space between all of the connected trailers for housing one or more carousel-type storage systems as well as several point-of-sales terminals, an inventory display station or other similar types of equipment. The trailers can be individually uncoupled and returned to the warehouse for replenishment of the products and / or parts therewithin and can be moved from one location to another location at will.

[0012]In one embodiment, a point-of-sales terminal is provided at the check-out station for integration therewith for allowing a customer to browse products electronically and select various products for purchase, review or check out. The check-out station processes customer specific orders and automatically sequences the carousel to the purchased products. As shown in the exemplary workflow diagram of FIG. 5, once customers select various items for purchase, the check-out station would automatically retrieve these items from the storage bin for check out, and then the store clerk would tally the price of the items to be purchased by entry of the price into a typical cash register which is integrated into a point-of-sales terminal. The clerk may be identified by a swipe card, a radio frequency ID FOB, or a pin number. Self-serve checkout stations can likewise be provided to allow the customer to scan the bar codes that appear on the items to be purchased. The station may also provide other user-friendly mechanisms such as a series of menu choices on a touch-screen monitor, and voice prompts to guide shoppers through the transaction process. It may also assist with entry of product code for items not possessing bar codes.

[0016]Powering the trailer unit of the present invention is a generator located at the front portion of each trailer. The generator may be housed generally outside the confines of the interior of the trailer in order to reduce interior noise and provide better ventilation for exhaust.

[0017]In one embodiment, the present trailers are integrated with a company's Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) system which is used to manage internal and external resources, including tangible assets, financial resources, materials and human resources. Such ERP system may be accomplished via “cloud computing,” utilizing various interconnecting “cloud components” communicating with each other over application programming interfaces, and preferably over web services. As such, processing duties may be shared among various computing modules. Additionally, individual companies are not required to develop, own and maintain their own physical infrastructures, and instead utilize a third party's existing ERP services. Sharing “perishable and intangible” computing power among multiple “subscribers” and “renters” can improve utilization rates, while requiring a much lower initial outlay of funds from such users. In implementing such cloud computing, encrypted data is preferably stored in secured web servers.

Problems solved by technology

Although each of the known structures is suitable for its intended use, none are completely self-contained and each must be moved off-site to monitor and restock the inventory or merchandise.

Furthermore, none of the known mobile stores can be coupled together in a simple, efficient manner to provide expanded retail space to fit the needs and particular applications of the user.

Still further, none of the known mobile stores include an inventory system configured for managing the inventory of the mobile store wherein the inventory system sends requests and orders to a central inventory server over a network.

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